In general, do NOT abbreviate
or use an acronym, unless you have reason to:
So, especially avoid
bureaucratic acronyms and abbreviations like DWI and MVA[EB1].
Gov. George Pataki
Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Sen. Alfonse D’Amato
the Rev. Jim Baker
Lt. Gov. Dan Quayle
Corning Inc.
The Boeing Co.
George W. Bush
11:50 a.m.
Jan. 31
March 31
December 1990
214 Washington Ave.
223 W. Water St.
Sepulveda Boulevard
1440 Sepulveda Blvd.
14 Circle Drive
at Church Avenue and Walnut
Street
at Walnut and Grove streets
10th Avenue
24 W. Fifth St.
Dr. Phil Gott
He has a master’s
degree
He has a bachelor’s
degree in physical education.
ERA
The hurricane winds reached
speeds of 75 mph[EB8]
North Platte, Neb.
Los Angeles
States not abbreviated:
Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa,
Maine, Ohio, Texas, Utah
He addressed the United
Nations.
They sought aid from the U.N.
agency.
He entered the United States [EB11]illegally.
He opposed U.S. foreign
policy.
[EB1]An abbreviation used by police in their reports. It means motor vehicle accident.
[EB2]Note that there are no commas
[EB3]Note that it is not Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.
[EB4]Road is never abbreviated. Street, Boulevard and Avenue are the types of thoroughfares that are abbreviated when a specific address is given.
[EB5]OK on all references
[EB6]American Civil Liberties Union on first reference.
[EB7]Do not use this abbreviation. Instead, write: “Alfred E. Neuman, who has a doctorate in … “
[EB8]abbreviated without periods
[EB9]a state that is not abbreviated
[EB10]Does not require the state, unless it is the one in Mississippi.
[EB11]AP style has recently change on this. Where in the past you were required to spell out United States if it was a noun, it is now acceptable to use U.S. as a noun or an adjective.